If you’re like most area residents, a glimpse of spring would be a welcome antidote to the long winter. The Friends of London Civic Garden Complex have just what the doctor ordered: the annual Greenhouse Tour and Open House — and it’s free.

Sunday, the doors are open to the greenery and blooms that will find homes in public beds throughout the city.

The 50 members of the not-for-profit group will give guided tours, demonstrations on container gardening, host information displays and offer annual and tropical plants for sale. They also have gifts of potted herbs and tree seedlings, while quantities last.

Tours will include the Manness Conservatory that houses tropical plants and water features.

“While on the tour, the adults will see a demonstration by a master gardener on soil for container gardening and the children will pot up a flowering plant to take home,” Gail Dimson said. “With so much information, one can certainly aspire to growing something no matter where you live.”

The first tour took place in 2002 on a smaller scale. Depending on weather, up to 500 people attend each year.

As well as breathing in the scent of earth and blooms, visitors will learn from experts and get a deal on plants.

“The theme this year is container gardening,” Dimson said. “We have many nurseries participating. They were asked to display a particular aspect of container gardening. By doing this, we feel we have covered just about every type of container garden one could think of. Everyone will be able to speak directly with an expert. A tour of the greenhouses reveals how the city of London grows the plants for display in our streets, parks and boulevards.”

City employees plan, grow and transplant the plants from the greenhouse, as well as the tropicals in the conservatory.

Throughout the year, the Friends of London Civic Garden Complex and the complex offer area residents a venue for learning. A volunteer is available weekdays, noon to 2:45 p.m.

“Spring to December, we’re on duty from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays, providing the facility is not rented,” Dimson said. “You can visit the conservatory at this time and enjoy the warmth, and moisture (especially popular during the winter), relax and watch the giant koi and three turtles in the pond.”

The complex is the setting for many weddings, and at least one marriage proposal. It’s also the meeting place for the Garden Club of London, Nature London, London Horticultural Society and London Middlesex Master Gardeners.

Proceeds from the Friends’ activities support the greenhouse growing operation and improvements to the complex, such as benches, banners, Japanese cherry trees, the gazebo and a dry riverbed.

“Last year we raised $1,200 through our sale of plants at the Greenhouse Tour,” Dimson said. “This is literally ‘seed money’ as we grow 8,000 plants in our greenhouse area. The plants are donated back to one of the many groups here in London. Additional fundraising is done through our Children’s Workshop in February and the fall plant sale in September.”

The group donates seeds to local non-profit groups and programs, such as Balconies Beautiful, WOTCH, Participation House, the John Gordon Home, Mount Hope Therapeutic Gardening, Plant a Row-Grow a Row, My Sister’s Place, ReForest London, Merrymount Family Support Crisis Centre, Lambeth and London Horticultural Societies, Growing Chefs Ontario, East London Library, London Middlesex Master Gardeners “From Seeds to Your Table” and Eco Park.

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What: Friends of London Civic Garden Complex Greenhouse Tour and Open House